WO2010051802A1

WO2010051802A1 - Identification system and applications

Info

Publication number: WO2010051802A1
Application number: PCT/DE2009/001557
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jan Thiele; Sascha Voigt; André KREUTZER; Matthias Förster
Original assignee: Jan Thiele; Sascha Voigt; Kreutzer Andre; Foerster Matthias
Priority date: 2008-11-04
Filing date: 2009-11-04
Publication date: 2010-05-14
Also published as: CN102203797B; AU2009311102A1; EP2353124B1; EP2353124A1; US20140332587A1; RU2011122723A; CN102203797A; US20110253789A1; HK1161396A1; US8622307B2; AU2010246371B2; JP2012507811A; AU2010246371A1; KR20110081299A

Abstract

The invention relates to an identification system, comprising an information carrier or a group of such information carriers, which allow a clear association of information. The invention further relates to the use of said information carriers, and to a device for reading said information carriers, wherein the information carriers are associated with a random action of a data processing system by way of the structured information layer thereof or can trigger such action. The invention furthermore relates to information carriers for access control systems, payment systems, ticket systems, and marketing application. According to the invention, overlaps of the information layer can be provided by applying additional layers, which achieve several advantages according to the invention, such as optically rendering the information layer unrecognizable, and resulting increased safety of the information carrier against manipulation. In addition, the information layers can be applied in an absolutely level and thin manner onto the carrier material, which enables unlimited further processing.

Description

Identification system as well as applications

The invention relates to an information carrier, wherein it comprises an electrically non-conductive substrate, an electrically non-conductive adhesive layer and an electrically conductive information layer, and at least one further layer overlapping at least the region of the substrate with the structured information layer is arranged. Preferably, the invention also relates to an identification system, consisting of an information carrier or a group of such information carrier and a reading device, which allow a clear assignment of information, the information carrier can be assigned via their structured information layer of any action of a data processing system or trigger this.

The prior art shows several possibilities to produce information carriers by means of printing techniques or other coating methods which can be read out by means of a suitable reading method or reading device. Probably the most widespread information carriers produced in this way are barcodes in the embodiment as a one-dimensional bar code or, for example, as two-dimensional variants executed. These are recorded with suitable optical scanners and optionally further processed via appropriate data processing systems.

The printing techniques and coating techniques for making such features continue to evolve. Thus, EP 1 803 562 describes a method for transfer of imaging layers from a carrier foil or transfer foil to printing sheets in a sheet-processing machine. In this case, an adhesive is applied in a first application unit and moved together in a further coating unit with a transfer film and applied material from the transfer sheet by adhering to the sheet. In this case, a transfer nip is formed in the coating unit and the transfer film is placed on the surface of a press roll along with the transfer material coated side on a sheet and fed under pressure together with this through the transfer nip, so that the imaging layers in adhesive areas of the Carrier film to be transferred adhering to the sheet. This can be easily applied barcodes and alphanumeric information. Document DE 10 2008 013 509 A1 describes a steganographic method which can produce security features which are evidently invisible in printed products by means of this transfer ribbon technique. The verification or visualization of these features is done optically by means of a decoder, which therefore acts as a reader. Furthermore, a resistive security feature is known from DE102006031795A1, which was produced by means of transfer film technology. In this method, resistors or resistor networks are introduced into printed products which are intended to represent a security feature. The verification is done contact-based by means of a reader, which measures the resistors according to the ohmic principle.

An information carrier according to the invention, which is produced by means of transfer foil technology, whose connection with a reading device to an identification system and resulting applications of the system according to the claims according to the invention are currently unknown.

The prior art is further described in US 5,818,019, US 3,719,804, US

4,587,410 and US 2006/0118612 disclose sheet printed materials that allow for secure verification or validation of data. This can be useful, for example, for medicines and their packaging, but also for lottery tickets. The printed information provide z. For example, authentication is secure or validity validation. Capacitive readable information carriers are also known, inter alia, from the applications US Pat. No. 3,719,804 (permanent information memory) and US Pat. No. 4,587,410 (parking system). In the latter example, the processing and variability of capacitive structures for a parking meter is shown. By means of a mechanical unit, the capacitive structure in the reading device is successively changed, thus changing its "intrinsic value." An individualization of the structures is not provided.The complete system is a self-sufficient system without interaction with other systems or with data processing or data storage The description relates to liquid processable materials which are suitable for printing processes, which is associated with all the problems which such liquid processable inks bring with them those that are sufficient are very expensive, contain solvents, have a limited shelf life and cause process engineering problems by means of separation techniques of the applied conductor tracks. The read-out method is highly position-dependent and is connected to a fixed read-out position of the information carrier in the reader.

In summary, the solutions proposed in the prior art have several disadvantages. For example, they are not inexpensive enough for mass application, can only be imperfectly recycled due to their complex structure (RFI D systems), can sometimes be easily copied (barcodes), generate a great deal of effort by being attached to the end product or can only be poorly or do not process further by printing (chip cards).

The object of the invention is therefore to provide a cost-effective and efficient information carrier, which allows easy handling, as well as an extremely economical, secure read-out and evaluation principle and achieves copy protection and maximum manipulation security.

Surprisingly, the object is solved by the independent claims. Preferred embodiments emerge from the subclaims.

It was completely surprising that an information carrier could be provided which does not have the disadvantages of the prior art. The information carrier according to the invention comprises an electrically non-conductive substrate with an electrically non-conductive, at least partially applied adhesive layer on which an at least single-layer electrically conductive information layer is arranged. Furthermore, at least one further layer covering at least the region of the substrate with the structured information layer is arranged on the information carrier, preferably a paper layer and / or a film layer and / or a color layer and / or a lacquer layer or combinations thereof.

The information carrier preferably consists of an electrically nonconductive substrate, which is followed by an at least partially applied, preferably electrically non-conductive adhesive layer. This adhesive layer is followed by an at least single-layer electrically conductive information layer. Suitable materials for the information layer are preferably any electrically conductive or weakly conductive materials. Preference is given to metals (for example aluminum, copper, iron, etc.), graphite, carbon black and / or dielectric materials. It combinations of these materials or even alloys are possible. Self-doped semiconductor materials or conductive plastics are conceivable. The materials available for the information layer are almost exclusively solids and therefore abrasive. In known direct printing methods for direct application of conductive layers, the layout forming molds and tools are severely limited in durability (wear life) and wear. It was completely surprising that the blankets and other tools for applying the adhesive work almost wear-free and so information layer could be applied without affecting tools. According to several million pieces of information, no loss of quality or fuzziness in the image of the information layer could be detected and thus a major flaw in the current state of the art could be eliminated. Expensive tools, the change in the machine (working time) and the raw materials for the production of the tools can thus be saved and thus, surprisingly, represent an outstanding economic feature of the invention.

The at least one further layer following the information layer may comprise at least one adhesive layer and / or at least one paper layer and / or at least one color layer and / or one lacquer layer and / or one film. Of course, it is also conceivable to apply combinations of the aforementioned. Suitable substrates are preferably all electrically non-conductive materials, such as paper, cardboard, wood-based materials, composites, laminates and / or plastics. It was surprising that an information carrier can be provided by the preferred embodiment, which has a large storage capacity and also a high stability and Stoßu- nempfindlichkeit. For example, the carrier can be easily transported and shipped.

The information carrier according to the invention enables various applications and accordingly has numerous fields of application. These include, for example, the applications in advertising and marketing or ticketing. A printed product thus contains an information layer which, in combination with a reading device, makes further information (eg from the internet) accessible or can itself trigger actions. It was completely surprising that the system according to the invention enables an extended product range for providers and these In addition, can be changed or adapted very quickly. This represents an increase in the technical possibilities. For example, in a switch discussion in a bank or post office, the employee in question can pass on the information carrier to the customer through time-consuming consulting services, which then uses it at home in peace and quiet Information content of the information store. The retrievable contents or triggerable actions can be changed or adapted at any time. If one were to bring the information to pure print products, these would have to be reprinted and distributed with every change. With the solution according to the invention, this is not necessary and thus saves a great deal of effort, time, costs and is also always up to date. Counter employees are often required to provide their serviced customers with promotional and informational brochures (as pure print products) at the end of the normal switch process. Often in the form of leaflets or so-called flyers, the customer is offered further offers of insurance companies, banks, offers for travel, consumer goods of any kind or special promotions. This form of advertising with conventional printed products is absolutely limited in terms of their information content. The information carrier according to the invention, however, also allow the use of the full range of promotional effects such as image, sound, combinations thereof with the aid of suitable data processing systems to which the readers can be connected. Such data processing systems may preferably be computers, cell phones, consoles or other systems. In the simplest case, only one reader and one information store is necessary. In a particularly preferred embodiment, a reader is connected to the data processing medium. The information carrier will then make his stored information accessible via the reading device and, for example, open virtual contents. The information content is almost infinite, since, for example, with an Internet page opened with the information carrier, the entire virtual world can be opened up and the user can continue to immerse and possibly other than the introductory offers of the information carrier can be offered.

It can preferably be provided coverage of the information layer by applying further layers, which achieve several advantages, such as optical defacement of the information layer and a resulting increased manipulation security of the information carrier. moreover Surprisingly, the information layer could be applied so thinly that a simple and cost-effective further processing or refining can take place. Thus, additional layers can be applied without any interaction with the information layer and the information layer itself remains completely undamaged.

Surprisingly, it has been shown that the costs for the complex information storage or information carrier are marginally more expensive than those of a pure printed product and thus many times cheaper than CDs or other forms of information storage. However, it should be remembered that the information store can be supplemented or changed at any time. The information carrier saves raw materials and improves the effectiveness of the transmission of information. In addition, the information worlds can be presented across media. While there is a deadline for a journal after which nothing can be changed and the time step goes into print, the world of information on the Internet allows a constant adaptation of the content and further processing of topics as would not be possible in a pure print product ,

The use of the identification system according to the invention will be described on the concrete example of an edition of a magazine for history. In the first issue of this magazine, a topic will be placed, eg. For example, the topic

This issue comes with a reader and the first information carriers The buyer of this magazine reads the magazine through in his usual way and finds in the book references to continuing content that he can retrieve using a reader, data processing medium and associated information carrier For example, can he virtually view a pyramid from inside or see 3D views of buildings that would not be possible or only partially possible in a pure print media product? In addition, the publisher can offer further information carriers or contents which either directly or not at all have the theme " Egypt ". Examples of direct links are links to the topic, thematic competitions (view of the profits of a trip to Egypt, etc.), books, CDs, DVDs, movies etc.

If you want to achieve cross-media sales promotion, this is called cross-promotion. It represents a special form of the graduation, with which at least two Advertisers perform communication activities and transport a unified message to one for both or all interesting target group. Thus, advertising costs can be significantly reduced and at the same time a larger advertising volume can be realized. In addition, one can better agree in advance of the joint action to exclude conflicts of interest and competition. In the context of the system according to the invention, for example, a tourism provider for Egypt, a museum in which an Egyptian exhibition can be seen, a motion picture producer who has made a film in or about Egypt and an Egyptian specialty restaurant could and would place their advertising and information messages together with the publisher, which publishes these theme books published by the Cross-Promotion. In this case, the advertising providers have the theme booklet enclose their own information carriers, which call up and make available the content of the advertiser when they are read in by means of the reading device. If unexpected events or changes occur, eg temporary closure of the museum due to construction measures, then these things can be virtually adjusted and updated within seconds and the customer thus always has a current and more advanced status than in conventional print media products where the printed information does not or badly corrected, changed or adapted. It was surprising that the information carriers were also full-surface (one-sided and two-sided) as

Print products can be used and do not represent a visual restriction, as would be done by printed bar codes, etc. That is, the information carrier can also be used as a printed product. This means that high-quality trading cards or theme worlds can also be realized and exchanged, collected, used or sold like letter stamps. Surprisingly, it has been found through experiments that the information carriers can be disposed of or recycled like pure printed products if they are no longer relevant to the user. As a result, raw materials can be saved and manufacturing costs are reduced, which in turn is reflected in a low purchase price.

Particularly advantageous is the use in direct connection with so-called virtual items, so things that have real economic and thus tradable value, but only exist in a virtual representation or environment. Examples are so-called online worlds such as "Second Life®" or other massively multiplayer online (role) games. The information carriers can be used for download areas for music, videos, texts, data or e-books or for bonus brands or corresponding programs. Furthermore, it is not absolutely necessary to download the aforementioned content. The information carriers according to the invention can also act as access keys to these contents without necessarily transferring them via data lines.

It is particularly advantageous if the information carriers are part of a printed product, for example a media product, for example a newspaper, a journal, a book or the like. Particularly preferred are packaging. Advantageously, use in all areas is possible and advantageous in which a one-to-one assignment of information is required or advantageous. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the information carrier is part of a printed product and already by means of perforation or other predetermined breaking point technique of and from this printed product herauslösbar.

The information carriers can likewise preferably be used in groups, wherein in turn a plurality of groups or a plurality of information carriers forms an identification system. The identification system may preferably also comprise a reading device which allows easy and fast reading of the information stored on the information carriers.

Through the use of, for example, highly productive sheet-fed offset or web offset printing, the information carriers according to the invention can be manufactured, finished and finished very inexpensively. This results in very diverse applications for which previous information carriers and / or readers were too expensive, not very versatile or just inappropriate due to their shape. According to the current state of the art, the information carriers according to the invention represent one of the cheapest possibilities of non-optical information storage. The identification system according to the invention comprises at least one reader and at least one information carrier, the information carrier comprising an adhesive layer and an information layer, and the information layer is a layer applied by transfer processes, preferably transfer film processes and particularly preferably cold film transfer processes. In a further preferred embodiment, the reading device is interconnected with at least one data-processing medium. Examples of such data processing media include, but are not limited to, computers, PDAs, consoles, and cell phones. This ensures the connection of the identification systems according to the invention with other devices and systems which can use the information content of the information carriers. The reader can be easily and quickly connected to the listed devices and systems, allowing high flexibility. The information carrier, a group of information carriers and / or an identification system can preferably be associated with a reading device via its structured information layer of an action of a data processing system or trigger this, preferably this affects actions on non-networked data processing systems and more preferably on networked data processing systems , For the purposes of the invention, a reading device preferably denotes a reading device. The most preferred example of such a networked data processing system is the Internet or the data processing systems connected thereto.

In a further preferred embodiment of the information carrier, at least one further layer covering at least the area of the substrate with the structured information layer is arranged. This may, for example, be a paper layer and / or a film layer and / or a color layer and / or a lacquer layer or combinations thereof. Surprisingly, it can be easily ensured by another layer that the information content is covered and defaced, but also that it is protected from environmental influences such as air humidity, temperature, solar radiation or mechanical stress. This ensures that the information carrier has a high durability and is not damaged or even destroyed.

It is preferred that the reading device can both detect and measure the information layer applied at least in regions, and thereby determine the information content of the information carrier. This is another novelty compared to the prior art, because now not only the presence of information (for example in bit form) can be tested, but surprisingly also their quality. This contributes greatly to the security of the Information carrier at and also represents an increase in the memory depth relative available area for the information carrier. Examples of this, the figures show. First, it is assumed that the information content of the information carrier is identical. On closer inspection (enlargement window), however, it can be seen that the information layer (exemplified in the figures) is selectively changed. As a result, a purely quantitative test by the reader reflects an identical but the qualitative test reflects a different information content. For qualitative testing of the information layer, for example, capacitive and / or inductive methods can be used.

According to the prior art, an information carrier in the identification system is bound to exactly one context and it is therefore not possible to use an information carrier for a purpose other than that for which the identification system was originally developed. By introducing interpretation-describing information into the information layer of an information carrier, a group of information carriers and / or an identification system as a description of how information is to be interpreted in a given context, the context of the identification system can surprisingly be determined by the information carrier itself. This is preferred by dividing the information layer into an interpretation-describing area, as the area of the information layer which contains information for interpretation, and into an information-bearing area as the area of the information layer containing useful information. Where useful information is to be understood as information which generate a benefit in which they cause, for example, the reader to call a specific action. An example of this is a reading device which, if an information carrier is recognized from a marketing context, makes advertising content accessible in a suitable medium, such as a computer or television, and if an information carrier is recognized from the context of a business card, the information stored on the information carrier - makes mations the user, for example, through his mobile phone accessible. Advantageously, the shape, the layout or the structure of the information layer can be defined by corner points and / or curves filling surfaces, in particular of rectangles and / or circles. Both the position as well as the shape and / or the surface itself can be detected as components of the structured information layer by means of the reading device. In this case, this information layer represents the information content of a certain number of information carriers. It may be unique copies or n-fold number of them, depending on whether there are other information carriers that have an absolutely identical structured information layer.

Both the information layer (and thus the associated information content), as well as the visual appearance can be designed differently for the information carrier. Thus, within a group of information carriers according to the invention:

A plurality of information carriers have the same structure of the information layer and at least one identically designed ink layer, so that a self-contained group of information technology and optically identical information carriers is realized,

a plurality of information carriers have the same structure of the information layer and at least one differently designed ink layer, so that a group of information technology identical, but optically different, information carriers is realized,

a plurality of information carriers have an uneven structure of the information layer and at least one identically designed color layer, so that a group of information technology-unique, but optically identical, information carriers is realized;

- Have a plurality of information carriers an uneven structure of the information layer and at least one uneven color layer, so that completely, so optically and in terms of information technology, unique information carriers are realized.

Thus, advantageously, countless combinations can be generated that allow easy grouping and management of the information carrier. The applied information layers of the information carriers can be modified in regions, by means of additive and / or subtractive methods, preferably by inkjet methods and particularly preferably by laser methods in their structuring. It has surprisingly been found that this is particularly advantageous for the generation of information-technologically different contents or for the individualization of the information carriers. For example, blanks can be made of information carriers that allow automation and mass production. In the further course of their information design, it is thus possible to selectively create or destroy areas that either initially represent a meaningful information content or complete the initial information content of the information carrier blank. By means of pure transfer film technology, only limited information carriers (depending on the print format) could be produced, one speaks of regionalization. The possibility of area-wise adaptations of the information carriers can be extremely advantageous, especially in connection with the very selective readout and measurement thereof. Thus, for example, by additional order, partial removal and / or material change an information technology different (compared to the initial state) information carrier arise. Such a change, which is not necessarily immediately obvious in the sense of optically detectable features, is exemplified in the figures. Surprisingly, beyond the partial removal of material, it is also possible to use a chemical and / or physical conversion of material to change measured values and thus to change the information content of such information carriers. As an example, the thermally induced oxidation of the conductive material called aluminum to aluminum oxide without being limited to this. With carbon-containing compounds or even conductive materials such as PEDOTPSS (poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) poly (styrenesulfonates)) surprisingly very good results could be achieved. This made it possible for the first time to evaluate such information carriers not only areal but also spatially (vertically), in that here partially material is applied or partially removed. This leads to the possibility of accommodating a higher data density with a comparable area on such data carriers.

It is also preferred to apply further optical, electrical, electronic, sensory and / or acoustic elements to the information carrier. To more Functions within the information carrier according to the invention can be implemented by means of suitable additive methods conductor tracks and electronic elements such as. Batteries, displays, sensors, etc. are applied. Depending on the element and the method used, application before or after production of the structured information layer may be preferred. The elements and their wiring can be present both separately and galvanically coupled to the structures of the information layer. It may also be preferred that the substrate already contains elements or parts thereof in the initial state of the processing. Examples include piezoelectric substrates (PVDF films) or substrates with piezoelectric ingredients or regions.

In a particularly preferred variant, secondary information is applied or contained on the information carrier, which in particular makes the orientation or speed of the information carrier relative to the reading device determinable. This is particularly advantageous in order to read the information content without error or to even start the readout process. In conjunction with dynamic information carriers which are read out during or by a movement, secondary information can be used to determine the reading speed and thus to start and also terminate the reading process in a defined manner. By way of example, secondary information can also be understood as security features which can also be read out inductively, resistively and / or capacitively without being limited to these physical mechanisms. In the figures, such a security feature is shown by way of example.

In a further preferred embodiment of the information carrier, features and / or elements can be mounted on or which contain additional visual information, in particular printed values, symbols, signs, security and / or authenticity features, in particular on playing cards and / or trading cards. This additional information can be surprisingly guaranteed that test criteria are added, which ensures the unambiguous authenticity of the information carrier without a reader. These may be, for example, mirror foil elements, holograms, microwatches, watermarks, and other security features known in the art. It can be ensured by simple means that through a simple and, above all, rapid visual check the authenticity of the carrier is shown. There are preferably no expensive additional equipment necessary for this purpose.

An example capacitive reading device is used for decoding or for reading the applied information layer. In this case, it is preferable for the structured information layer of an information carrier, a group of information carriers and / or an identification system to be designed and arranged by a reading device whose electrode arrangements are such that the number and / or size and / or shape and / or position of the structured information layer of the or the information carrier is recognized, recorded and further processed data-technically. In this case, the active surfaces (= reading electrodes and / or capacitor surfaces) are designed so that the information of the information carrier can be read without any doubt. In the read-out process, the information carrier preferably forms part of the reading device or a component with the arrangements of the reading electrodes in the latter. So covered by the information carrier parts of the reader are recognized as 1 and nonexistent places as 0 (bit principle). Of course, a reflection is possible, ie a 1 means no overlap and 0 means overlap. In addition, the reading device as part of the identification system can determine the information content with specially adapted reader surfaces (shown by way of example in the figures) with integrative, summing and differential possibilities which do not follow the bit principle (only). Accordingly, the invention also relates to the use of such an information carrier in which the structured information layer is detected by a reading device whose electrode arrangements are designed and arranged such that the number and / or size and / or shape and / or position of the structured information layer of the data carrier is recognized and data processing is further processed. This is a novelty of the identification system according to the invention via the known bit principle and represents an opening of a new technical area.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the use of an information carrier, a group of information carriers and / or an identification system is described in which this is assigned to a data record in a data processing device and this remains constant or changes in the course of its use. Surprisingly, the preferred embodiment are used specifically for credit accounts or generally for dynamically changing content or actions, the information is preferably stored on the information carrier dynamically. The information carriers can be used so often. On the other hand, static data sets always remain the same.

As an example of such use are tickets for using public transport such as trains, trams, buses, etc. An information carrier may act as a 10-card which is counted down each time it is used. In contrast to stamping systems which are often found in trams or buses, there is no change in the information carrier (neither optically nor functionally) but the change of a stored data record assigned to this information carrier. The use or the data record can also assume states that it already had, that is, be reversible. This would be the case in the event of a recharge of the ticket.

As another example, mention should be made of using an information carrier as a pre-paid mobile phone prepaid card. Accordingly, a customer would purchase such a card in a shop and partially or completely unlock the balance by means of a reading device. This prepaid card would be empty in the last case and would not unlock another credit when used again, the data set would have changed accordingly. This could also be brought back into its initial situation by recharging the card. This is called a dynamic (variable) record that changes as the card is used.

In particularly preferred uses, the information carriers, groups of information carriers and / or identification systems may be preferred as playing cards, trading cards, stamps, franking, postage, goods logistics, goods tracking, admission, tickets, access to closed areas, virtual content, marketing applications, customer loyalty, lottery and Sweepstakes, membership cards, season tickets, payment applications, certificates of authenticity, certificates, tamper-evident, copy protections, signatures, delivery notes, items within a computer game, music / video / ebook downloads, bonus brands / programs or gift cards. Further uses are not excluded. The information carrier can be surprisingly wise be used reliably and variably in different areas, with no significant modifications must be made for use. As a result, the information carrier can preferably be produced inexpensively as a mass product.

Benefits in applications include, for example, a high degree of automation, extremely difficult to copy, high level of security, very inexpensive, reliable identification system and recyclable information carrier, which can be further refined. In addition, other benefits may arise, resulting from the particular use. For example, further customer information can be collected and possibly optimized marketing offers can be offered. Many products, especially printed products, are rarely or not at all important beyond their optical function. In very simple cases, voucher codes or other information are displayed in order to send users further offers, information, etc. via the Internet. These codes are easily copied, must be typed in and do not provide immediate access to the desired information. These deficient characteristics can be overcome by the inventive identification system.

The information carriers, groups of information carriers and / or identification systems may also be characterized in their use preferably characterized in that only in combination with at least one further information carrier completes the information content and thus the assignment to another record is released. This is particularly beneficial for data keys or when increased information content should be needed. For example, two users at two different locations could each use an information carrier in the context of the identification system according to the invention to jointly open a chat room, initiate a transaction (in common accounts), call a common game and identify, etc. It may also well more than only 2 of these information carriers are combined together in this way. Due to the flexible and simple adaptation of the information carriers, the technical possibilities for using the information carriers are essentially unlimited.

It is further preferred that the reader of the identification system for the information carrier either a slot, a slot and / or a Auflageflä- have for receiving at least a portion of the information carrier and the information carrier specified or arbitrarily positioned in, on or on the reader.

The invention will be explained below by way of example by way of example, but without being limited to these; show it:

Fig. 1 1. Example of an information carrier

Fig. 2 2. Example of an information carrier

Fig. 3 3. Example of an information carrier

Fig. 4 4th example of an information carrier

Fig. 5 1st example of a reading device

6 shows an example of an information carrier with a security feature

Fig. 7 2nd example of a reading device

Fig. 8 5th example of an information carrier

Fig. 9 6. Example of an information carrier

Fig. 10 3. Example of a reading device

Fig. 1 shows an example of an information carrier. An information carrier is shown consisting of a substrate 1 and an information layer 2.

Fig. 2 shows a second example of an information carrier. It is a sketch of an information carrier consisting of a substrate 1 and an information layer 2 shown.

Fig. 3 shows a third example of an information carrier. The information carrier preferably comprises a substrate 1 and an information layer 2. formation layer 2, for example, with a pattern of parallel oriented rectangular areas.

FIG. 4 shows a fourth example of an information carrier. The information carrier consists of a substrate 1 and an information layer 2. The information layer 2 can, for example, be traversed by a pattern of L-shaped surfaces.

Fig. 5 shows a first example of a reading device. A reader layout preferably comprises a carrier material or board 3, an exciter electrode 4 and a read electrode 5.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example of an information carrier with a security feature. The information carrier preferably consists of a substrate 1, an information layer 2 and preferably has a security feature 6.

Fig. 7 shows a second example of a reading device. The reader layout preferably comprises a carrier material or circuit board 3, an excitation electrode 4, a reading electrode 5 and a reading device for a security feature 7. A reading electrode 5 can also be used for bit recognition, for example.

Fig. 8 shows a fifth example of an information carrier. The information carrier preferably comprises a substrate 1 and an information layer 2.

FIG. 9 shows a sixth example of an information carrier. Here, the information carrier preferably has a substrate 1 and an information layer 2.

Fig. 10 shows a third example of a reader. Here, by way of example, a reader layout is shown, which may consist of a carrier material or circuit board 3, an excitation electrode 4 and a read electrode 5, for example. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 substrate

2 structured information layer 3 carrier material or board

4 excitation electrode

5 reading electrode

6 security feature

7 reading device for security feature

Claims

claims

1. Information carrier, characterized in that on the information carrier which comprises an electrically non-conductive substrate having an electrically non-conductive, at least partially applied adhesive layer on which an at least single-layer electrically conductive information layer is arranged, at least one at least the region of the substrate with the is arranged on a structured information layer overlapping further layer, preferably a paper layer and / or a film layer and / or a color layer and / or a lacquer layer or combinations thereof.

2. Information carrier, according to claim 1, characterized in that a reading device recognize the at least partially applied information layer and / or can measure and thereby the information content of the information carrier is determined.

3. Information carrier according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the information layer comprises metals, graphite, carbon black and / or dielectric materials and the further layers, at least one adhesive layer and / or at least one paper layer and / or at least one color layer and / or a Lacquer layer and / or comprise a film.

4. Information carrier according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the structured information layer consists of corners and / or curves defined filling surfaces, in particular of rectangles and / or circles, wherein the position, the shape and / or the surface itself detectable as components of the structured information layer by means of a reading device are and these represent the information content of a certain number of data carriers.

5. Information carrier according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the applied information layers are changed in regions, by means of additive and / or subtractive process, preferably by inkjet process and particularly preferably by laser in their structuring.

6. Information carrier according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the substrate comprises paper, cardboard, wood-based materials, composite materials, laminates and / or plastics.

7. Information carrier according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that further optical, electrical, electronic, sensory and / or acoustic elements are applied to the information carrier.

8. Information carrier according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that on the information carrier secondary information can be applied or contained, which in particular make the orientation or speed of the information carrier relative to the reading device determinable.

9. Information carrier according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that features and / or elements are mounted on or which contain additional optical information, in particular printed values, Symbols, signs, security and / or authenticity features, in particular on playing cards and / or trading cards.

10. Group of information carriers comprising a plurality of information carriers according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one color layer, adhesive layer, paper layer and / or foil each at least as a background, coverage, number, letter, character, graphical representation and / or pictorial Representation or a combination thereof is applied, wherein

a plurality of information carriers have an identical structure of the information layer and at least one differently configured ink layer, so that a group of information technology identical, but optically different, information carriers is realized,

a plurality of information carriers have an uneven structure of the information layer and at least one identically designed ink layer, so that a group of information technology unique, but optically identical, information carriers is realized,

11. identification system, characterized in that it comprises at least one information carrier according to one or more of the preceding claims and at least one reading device, wherein the information carrier comprises an adhesive layer and an information layer, and the information layer by a transfer method, preferably Transferfo- lienverfahren and particularly preferred cold foil transfer method applied layer.

12. Identification system according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one reading device is interconnected with at least one further data-processing medium.

13. Identification system according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the reading device has either a slot, a slot and / or a bearing surface for receiving at least a portion of the information carrier and the information carrier predetermined or arbitrary in, on or on the Reader is positioned.

14. Use of an information carrier, a group of information carriers and / or an identification system according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the one or more information carrier via its or its structured information layer determines the interpretation of the information contained on the information carrier by a reader and this preferably achieved in that the information layer into a descriptive describing

Area and is divided into an information-bearing area.

15. Use of an information carrier, a group of information carriers and / or an identification system, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the structured information layer by a reading device whose electrode arrangements are designed and arranged such that the number and / or size and / or form and / or position of the structured information layer of the information carrier or carriers are detected, recorded and further processed in terms of data technology.

16. Use of an information carrier, a group of information carriers and / or an identification system, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the or the information carrier is associated with a reading device via his or her structured information layer of an action of a data processing system or or trigger or trigger these, preferably this relates to actions on non-networked data processing systems, and particularly preferably on networked data processing systems.

17. Use of an information carrier, a group of information carriers and / or an identification system according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that this or this is associated with a data set in a data processing device and this remains constant or changes in the course of its use.

18. Use of an information carrier, a group of information carriers and / or an identification system according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the one or more information carrier as playing cards, trading cards, stamps, franking, postage, goods logistics, goods tracking, admission, tickets, access closed areas, virtual content, marketing applications, customer loyalty, lotteries and sweepstakes, membership cards, time cards, payment applications, certificates of authenticity, certificates, tamper-evident, copy protections, signatures, delivery notes, items within a computer game, music / video / e-books Downloads, bonus tag programs or gift cards are or will be used.

19. Use of an information carrier, a group of information carriers and / or an identification system according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that only in combination with at least one further information carrier complements the information content and thus the assignment to another record is released.